Apparatus for the controlled infeed storage and discharge of elongate objects

ABSTRACT

The disclosure relates to an apparatus for the controlled infeed, storage and discharge of elongate objects (20, 21, 22, etc.). The apparatus essentially includes a rotary drum (1) and at least one strap, belt or the like (2, 3, 4). The invention, the strap, belt or the like (2, 3, 4) is connected to the rotary drum (1) which is disposed to rotate in two different directions for winding up and unwinding of the belt (2, 3, 4) or the like. The elongate objects (20, 21, 22, etc.) are aligned with the drum (1), are disposed on the belt (2, 3, 4) or the like, and are arranged to be held by the belt (2, 3, 4) or the like against the rotary drum (1). The belt (2, 3, 4) or the like and/or the elongate objects (20, 21, 22, etc.) are moreover disposed to be prevented from movement in their storage position by a holding device (6).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an apparatus for the controlled infeed,storage and discharge of elongate objects. This apparatus essentiallycomprises a rotary drum and at least one belt, strap or the like.

BACKGROUND ART

Within such areas as the manufacturing industry, problems areexperienced in the efficient handling of elongate objects on theirtransport between machining stations, on infeed into and discharge fromthe machining machines and also in the very storage of elongate objectsbefore and after being machined. In particular in those cases in whichmachining takes place a large number of times of one and the sameelongate object--and hence handling of such elongate objects takes placemany times--the importance will readily be perceived of an efficienthandling of such objects with slight or no manual labour input. For theelongate objects themselves, it is vital that the machining which hasbeen carried out is not damaged or affected to any appreciable extent byhandling and storage in connection with the machining proper.

The method most commonly employed today--despite all of themodernization which has been introduced with the aid of industrialrobots, computers etc.--is to pick the object manually from and to abox, a container, a pallet etc., in applicable cases by stacking. Thetime consumption for this manual picking is considerable since theoperation is repeated many times, with the result that the machiningwork is rendered considerably more expensive because of the handlingprocess itself. In addition, the frequency of damage caused in suchmanual picking is considerable.

Moreover, objects which are stored loose in boxes, crates etc. arerelatively theft-prone, stock-taking of objects in stores etc. isimpeded and more expensive and, finally, production-line machiningdefies on-the-spot monitoring, for example for estimating delivery timesetc.

The storage of flexible sheet material in rolls or coils is previouslyknown in this art, for example for strip steel, such storage generallyproviding adequate protection for sheet material and, moreover, creatingfavourable conditions for rational handling at a workstation, where, forinstance, infeed to a punch for punching details from the strip steelmay relatively easily be automated. Coiling of such a roll is generallyeffected on a drum and, after completed coiling, the roll is strapped toprevent unwinding.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to devise an apparatus whichpermits simple and efficient handling and storage of elongate objects.The term elongate objects is here taken to signify all types of objectsof all kinds of materials in which the length of the object exceeds itscross-sectional area. Typical examples of elongate objects are pipes,sections, etc. of steel, aluminium, plastic, wood, etc.

In the apparatus mentioned by way of introduction, the present inventionis characterized in that the above-mentioned at least one belt, strap orthe like is connected to the rotary drum which is arranged to rotate intwo different directions for coiling and uncoiling the above-mentionedstrap or belt; that the above-mentioned elongate objects are alignedwith the drum and are localized on the belt or strap and are disposed tobe retained by the belt or strap against the rotary drum; and that thestrap or belt and/or the elongate objects are arranged to be preventedby a holding device from movement while in the storage position. Oneadvantageous embodiment of the present invention is characterized inthat the above-mentioned belt or strap is disposed to be driven in onedirection of rotation by the rotary drum and/or by an external primemover so as to be wound up on the rotary drum; and that the strap orbelt is disposed, in the other direction of rotation, to be unwound fromthe rotary drum by a second external prime mover, for instance connectedto the outer end of the strap or belt.

According to one particularly preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, the strap or belt consists of at least two straps distributedalong the length of the drum, and preferably one holding deviceallocated for each belt or the like, each holding device including apressure distributor and a friction reducer which are disposed foralternating cooperation with their associated belt or the like and./orwith the stored elongate objects.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

The nature of the present invention and its aspects will be more readilyunderstood from the following brief description of the accompanyingdrawings, and discussion relating thereto.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates the fundamental design of the apparatus according tothe invention:

FIG. 2 shows, in cross-section, parts of the apparatus according to FIG.1 in greater detail;

FIG. 3 shows the apparatus according to FIG. 1 with elongate objectsstored therein;

FIG. 4 shows the basic design of a second embodiment of the presentinvention with elongate objects stored therein; and

FIG. 5 shows a part of the embodiment according to FIG. 4.

It should be observed that details which essentially correspond to oneanother have been given the same reference numerals in the descriptionbelow and on the drawings, for purposes of simplification.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, the inventive concept as illustrated in FIG.1 essentially comprises a drum 1 which is rotatably driven in twomutually opposing directions in a manner not shown in detail on thedrawing. This drum 1 may be disposed vertically--see FIG. 1 --orhorizontally--see FIG. 4--or in any position therebetween and is made ofa pipe, section or the like of sufficient mechanical strength andrigidity to withstand the loads which may be involved.

The one end 2a of at least one belt or the like 2 is connected to thedrum 1, this strap, belt or the like being of a suitable, flexiblematerial, for instance woven fabric, with little or no stretch at theloadings contemplated here. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1,three belts 2, 3, 4 are employed, these being distributed along thelength of the drum 1 and all being mechanically connected at their oneends 2a, 3a, 4a to the drum 1 in a suitable manner along a straightline. From their connection point with the drum I and for a lengthcorresponding to approximately one turn about the drum 1, each belt 2, 3and 4, respectively, is provided, on its side facing the drum 1, with ayieldable or elastic layer 2c, 3c and 4c, respectively, as particularlyindicated in FIG. 2. This elastic layer 2c, etc. is of an extent orthickness, seen in the radial direction of the drum I and in theunloaded state, which corresponds substantially to the thickness orcross-section of the elongate objects 20, 21, 22, 23, etc. which are tobe handled by the apparatus, the layer terminating--as indicated in theleft-hand section of FIG. 2 abruptly, for the purpose of constituting anarrest device for the first, 20, of the elongate objects.

On driven anti-clockwise rotation of the drum I according to FIG. 2(this operation not being shown in detail on the drawing), the belt 2 iswound up on the drum 1 with the elastic layer 2c abutting against theouter surface of the drum 1. The elongate objects 20, il, etc. arecontinuously supplied to the belt 2 from the left as intimated in FIG.2, so that the first elongate object 20 abuts against the arrest deviceformed by the end of the elastic layer 2c and the following elongateobject 21 abuts against the first elongate object 20, the third elongateobject 22 against the second elongate object 21, and so on. If desiredor necessary, suitable spacers may, of course, be inserted in order alsoto keep the elongate objects 20, 21, 22, 23, etc. in mutuallyspaced-apart relationship. However, such spacers are not normallyrequired. By such winding-up of the belt 2, with a regular supply ofelongate objects 20, etc., the elongate objects 20, etc., will be woundup about the drum 1, thereby forming the battery of wound-up elongateobjects as illustrated in, for instance, FIG. 3. The elastic layer, 2c,3c, 4c, etc. of each belt 2, 3, 4, etc. consequently acts as a pressuredistributor and load distributor for the first turn about the drum Iwith elongate objects 20, etc. In the embodiment according to FIGS. 1and 3, the elongate objects 20, 21, 22, 23, etc. are stored vertically.In the embodiment according to FIG. 3, the belt 2 or belts 2, 3, 4(whose number may, of course, be varied), are connected (for examplemechanically) at their other ends 2b, 3b, 4b, to a second drum 5 orprime mover which may, in a manner not shown in detail on the drawing,be rotated so as to wind up and unwind the belt 2 or belts 2, 3, 4,respectively and which may also be utilized for holding the belts 2, 3,4 taut.

Finally, the apparatus according to the present invention is providedwith a holding device 6 which prevents the wound-up package from beingunintentionally unwound. This holding device may be designed indifferent manners and-is illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 solely as a base plate6 against which the one ends of the elongate objects are prevented byfriction from being displaced and thereby unwound. A second design ofthe holding device will be described in detail below with reference tothe embodiment according to FIG. 4 and is illustrated more closely inFIG. 5. Furthermore, the holding device is fitted with suitable wheels9a, 9b etc. for simple displacement by rolling to the differentmachining stations and points of use of the elongate objects 20, 21, 22,23, etc. If necessary or desirable, the drum 1 may itself also beprovided with suitable means (not shown) for preventing unintentionalrotation of the drum.

In a second design according to FIG. 4, the rotary drum 1 is disposedhorizontally instead of vertically as in FIGS. 1 and 3. Rotation of thedrum I in and relative to a frame 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 etc. is hererealized by the driving of a motor (not shown) by means of a crank 10which is rotatably journalled in the above-mentioned frame and ismechanically connected to the drum 1 which is rotary in relation to theframe. The design illustrated in FIG. 4 has been fed with a large numberof pipes or tubes in substantially the same manner as in the embodimentaccording to FIG. 3, but, in this instance, the elongate objects havebeen supplied to the apparatus disposed horizontally. The choice ofhorizontal or vertical infeed and discharge (or any directiontherebetween) of the elongate objects depends upon differentcircumstances in each individual case, for example in relation to thelength of the objects, how they are to be subsequently machined,handled, etc.

A suitable number of holding devices 6 is disposed between thelongitudinal beams, 11, 12 of the frame. The former are advantageouslydisposed in register with each respective belt 2, 3, 4 and hence arethree in number in this particular instance, while fewer or more thanthree may of course be employed. As will be apparent from FIG. 5, eachholding- device comprises, for example, a cross-beam or support member6d disposed between the longitudinal beams 11, 12 and mechanicallyconnected thereto, the cross-beam having a curved upper face 6a whichvery roughly corresponds to the curvature of the-outer surface of theround battery formed by the elongate objects in the wound-up state. Twohoses 8a, 8b are provided on the upper face of the cross-beam 6d andparallel therewith, the hoses running mutually parallel but disposedslightly apart from one another. These hoses 8a, 8b consist of asuitable yieldable material, for instance rubber, and are filled with asuitable liquid, for example water, the hoses being clamped at theirends in a manner not shown in detail on the drawing. Apressure-distributing sheet 7 is disposed on the upper side of the hoses8a, 8b, and may, for instance, consist of a bent plate. A gaseous orfluid medium may be supplied between the upper side of the sheet 7 andthe outer side of the belt 2 via a tube 6b disposed between the hoses8a, 8b and discharging on the upper side of the sheet 7 in order, ifnecessary--for example on unwinding the belt 2 etc. from the drum 1--toreduce the friction between the outer side of the belt 2 etc. utingsheet 7 is disposed on the upper side of the hfor example, compressedair.

In the embodiment according to FIGS. 4 and 5, the drum 1 rests --thanksto the vertical movable journalling of the drum 1 in the frame members14 and 15--with the elongate objects 20, etc. wound up thereon by meansof the belts 2, 3 and 4, against the upper side of its associated sheet7 by force of gravity, whereby unintentional rotation will be prevented.Moreover, the drum 1 per se may be provided with suitable releasabledevices which prevent rotation of the drum 1. Furthermore, the belts 2,3, 4 are, at their outer ends, suitably stretched, coiled and fixed inthe frame 11, 12, 13 (not shown in detail on the drawing) in order toprevent all unintentional discharge of elongate objects.

Finally, the frame 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 with its associated drum 1, belts2, 3, 4 and the elongate objects 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, etc. isadvantageously disposed as a unit on a suitably adapted carriage withwheels 9 for simple displacement of the unit to the desired position.

When elongate objects are to be unloaded, the belts 2, 3, 4 are firstreleased and passed over, for example, idler rollers (not shown) to acoiling apparatus (not shown) which, on rotation unwinds the belts 2, 3,4 from the drum 1, whereby the elongate objects are progressively andsequentially paid out on the stretched belts 2, 3 and 4 and led further,suitably--as described in the foregoing--by the application ofcompressed air or the like between the outer face of the belts 2, 3 and4 respectively, and the upper side of the sheet 7 in order to reduce thefriction therebetween.

The belts 2, 3, 4 may, as an alternative or supplement to the drag ofthe drum I also be positively fed in the winding-up direction, and theelongate objects 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, etc. may likewise be positivelyfed in the winding-up direction and/or in the unwinding direction.

Theoretically, the holding device 6 may be varied in a number ofdifferent ways as long as it is capable of preventing rotation. However,such a holding device might well be dispensed with if the belts 2, 3, 4etc. are made sufficiently long and provided with mutually cooperatinglocking members, for example velcro tapes, on each respective outer end2b, 3b and 4b such that each outer end locks itself by the intermediaryof the velcro tape.

The present invention should not be considered as restricted to thatdescribed above and shown on the drawings, many modifications beingconceivable without departing from the spirit and scope of the appendedclaims.

I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:
 1. An apparatus forthe controlled infeed, storage and discharge of elongate objects,comprising:a rotary drum; at least one belt substantially perpendicularto said drum and having a main body and a leading portion by which themain body is connected to said drum, said main body having a giventhickness throughout its length and at least part of said leadingportion being thicker than said given thickness; and means for windingsaid at least one belt on said drum as the elongate objects are alignedwith said drum and disposed on only the main body of said at least onebelt such that the objects are retained on said drum by said at leastone belt.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising holding meansfor preventing unintentional rotation of said drum to avoid release ofthe elongate objects.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said holdingmeans releasably abuts against the elongate objects.
 4. The apparatus ofclaim 2, wherein said holding means releasably abuts against said atleast one belt.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said at least onebelt is a minimum of two belts spaced from each other along said drum,and a plurality of holding means being arranged such hat one holdingmeans is associated with each of said belts.
 6. The apparatus of claim4, wherein the holding means includes a pressure distributor in contactwith at least one of its associated belt and the elongate elements, andfriction reducing means to lower the degree of such contact.
 7. Theapparatus of claim 6, wherein said pressure distributor is a sheetdisposed to abut against at least one of a surface of tis associatedbelt facing away from said drum and the elongate elements, and aresilient member disposed on a stationary support member and engagingsaid pressure distributor to urge it toward said at least one of thebelt and elongate elements; and wherein said friction reducing meansinjects one of a gaseous and fluid medium under pressure between saidpressure distributor and said at least one of the belt and elongateelements.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising atransportable base on which said drum and said at least one belt, alongwith the elongate objects retained on said drum, are mounted.
 9. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein said leading portion of the at least onebelt has an outer layer which is an extension of the main body and aninner elastic layer of a length to substantially encircle said drum asthe belt is wound around it.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein thethickness of said elastic layer is substantially the same as thediameter of the elongate objects.
 11. An apparatus for the controlledinfeed, storage and discharge of elongate objects, comprising:a rotarydrum and at least two belts spaced along the length of said drum andconnected thereto, said rotary drum being arranged to rotate in twodifferent directions for winding-up and winding-out of said at least twobelts; the elongate objects being aligned with said drum and disposed onsaid at least two belts, and are arranged to be retained by said atleast two belts against the rotary drum; said at least two belts and/orsaid elongate objects being disposed to be prevented from moving by aholding device, while in the storage position; and each of said at leasttwo belts having one holding device allocated therefore.
 12. A apparatusfor the controlled infeed, storage and discharge of elongate objectscomprising:a rotary drum and at least one belt, connected to the rotarydrum which is arranged to rotate in two different directions forwinding-up and winding-out of said at least one belt; the elongateobjects being aligned with said drum and disposed on said at least onebelt, and are arranged to be retained by said at least one belt againstthe rotary drum; said at least one belt and/or said elongate objectsbeing disposed to be prevented from moving by a holing device, while inteh storage position; each holding device including a pressuredistributor and a friction reducer which are arranged to co-operate withassociated belts and/or with the stored, elongate objects, a pressuredistributing sheet disposed to abut against the surface of said at leastone belt facing away from said drum, and two hoses suitably filled withfluid and disposed to abut against the surface of said pressuredistributing sheet facing away from said drum, said hoses being disposedto be supported by a stationary support member; and wherein the frictionreducer includes a gaseous or fluid medium under pressure which isdisposed to be supplied for friction reduction between the pressuredistributing sheet and said at least one belt and/or between thepressure distributing sheet and the elongate objects.